WE knew Chinese investors have been heavily involved in buying US property for some time, but here's a new wrinkle on an old story: they are now seeking property in the key boom towns of the US shale revolution. Little towns in the backblocks of Texas and other states are becoming the key targets of Chinese property investors.

Chinese are finding a way to double up on exposure to the US shale oil boom, with property-focused investors buying up homes built for workers as energy companies move into the sector. "Shale drilling is the main driver of Chinese companies' investment into property [in the US resources sector]," said Charlie Rosier, director of Blackfish, a Hong Kong-based firm focusing on United States property investment. As Chinese entities pour money into shale oil projects in the US, complementary investment into workers' housing that supports these projects offers lucrative yields, said Rosier, who identifies the investment hot spots as Texas, North Dakota and Pennsylvania.